Utah movie theater cancels on Florida shooting survivors

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah movie theater has canceled a planned town hall on gun reform with survivors of the Florida high school massacre, saying the event "appears to be escalating into a potentially contentious situation."

The Salt Lake Tribune reports Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres pulled out of a contract Wednesday to host the event at its South Jordan location, saying it would refund the deposit and help the organizers find another space.

Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a Valentine's Day shooting left 17 people dead, were scheduled to speak at the event Saturday.

The Utah Gun Exchange has followed the Parkland students in a military-style armored vehicle on their road trip across the country. It had encouraged its members to attend the event.